lamar



(No Moden.) sheets-sneet 1. J. S. LAMAR.

COTTON GHOPPER.

.Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

.dttorneys (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S'. LAMAR.

OOTTON OHOPPBR.

NO. 310,446. Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

(No Model.) v

WITJVEMES l 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. S. LAMAR.

COTTON GHOPPEB..

- Patented Jan. 6, 1885.v

' UNTTED STA-TES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S.

LAMAR, or AUGUsrA, enonem.

ooTroN-CHOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,446, dated January 6, 1885.

(No model.)

To (tZ-Zwtom/ it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Janes S. LAMAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Choppers, of which the A following is a specification, reference being VJthe shaft E.

had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to cotton choppers, and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a view in perspective of a cotton-chopper embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, and Fig. et is a bottom plan view.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the axle of the machine,which is mounted on two wheels, B and B', the wheel B being the driving-wheel. The hub C of the driving-wheel is providedon its inner end with a cog-gear wheel, D,which engages a pinion, E, on the outer end of a horizontal shaft, Ff, which is about one-half as long as the axle, and is supported in bearings E2 El, secured to the under side of the axle A. At its inner end the shaft Eis provided with a miter gearwheel, F. A lever, G, is fulcrumed in a hanger, G', secured to the under side of the axle A at its middle,and extends both in front and in rear of the axle, as shown. In rear of the horizontal transverse shaft E the lever G is recessed in its under side at G2, and its rear portion,H,is provided with a horizontal longitudinal bearing, H, for the horizontal longitudinal shaft H5 of the rotary chopper l,whichis keyed through its hub to said horizontal longitudinal shaft Il. The forward en d of the shaft I-I is provided with a miter gearwheel, H2, which engages the gear-wheel F on The rotary chopper Iconsists of a hub, F2, provided with two arms, I', intersecting at right angles. These arms I are provided with two curved blades, l2 l3,whieh are secured to the ends of the arms I bysock-l ets J. Spaces K are left between the curved blades l2 l, so that they will leave the stands in the row.

K designates the horizontal middle beam of the chopper-frame, which is framed into the axle directly over the lever G, and extends slightly in front and in rear of the axle. From the middle beam, in rear of the axle A, astirrup, L, extends downwardly around the lever G, and braces it laterally. The middle beam, K, also extends in front of the axle A a short distance, and is provided with a vertical threaded bearing for a hand-screw, L', which is designed to be used in adjusting the pivoted lever G, to regulate the depth to which the curved blades or hoes shall chop. At its upper end the screw L is provided with a lever, L2, by which it is operated.

In bearings M M, secured to the front edge of the front cross-beam of the frame, I provide a crank-lever, N, which may be brought into engagement with the forward part of the lever G by moving the handle of the lever N, which is within easy reach of thedrivers seat, toward the rear ofthe machine. This movement of the lever N causes the crank of said lever N to bear down on the forward end of the lever G, which causes the rear end,which carries the chopper, to be elevated, and clears the chopper from the ground.

This machine may be used in thinning out young plants other than cotton plants, if desired.

The lever N may be a foot-lever, if desired, and by pulling it back the blades can be instantly raised to enable them to pass an obstruction in a row, or to suspend the worl; in places where the plants may be already sufiiciently thin. The object of pivoting the lever Gis to allowit to be elevated without disturbing the working of the gearing.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The chopper is adjusted by the screw to rest upon or immediately beneath the surface of the bed or ridge containing the young plants. Vhen the sulky is moved forward, the blades are drawn forward and at the same time they are rapidly revolved transversely to the row of plants, thereby cutting out the plants while in contact with the surface, but leaving them to stand where the spaces K pass over them. The length of the blades and of the vacant spaces between them is4 accurately proportioned in the structure of the machine both to the horizontal and revolving velocity, so as to leave the plants standing at the proper distance apart. Vith awider sulky having gearing and blades attached to each wheel two IOC rows may be thinned or chopped out at thc same time and with one horse.

If desired, harrow-teeth or scrapers may be attached to work the sides of the plant-bed.

Having` thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. The combinatiomwith the axle provided with the frame and hangers, as described, of the wheel B', and the wheel B provided with cog-gear on its hub, the transverse gear-shaft in hangers secured to the axle, the horizontal longitudinal geared shaft, the recessed lever G, the rotary chopper having` the curved blades I2 I, with spaces between said blades, and the adj Listing-screw and crank-lever, substantially as speciied.

2. The con1l'Jination,with the frame secured t0 the axle mounted on the wheels B B', and provided with the hangers and stirrup, as described, of the recessed lever G, fulcrumed in the hanger secured to the axle, the rotary chopper having the curved blades I2 I, with spaces between said blades, the adjusting screw and crank-lever, and mechanism, substantially as described, for rotating,` the chop per, substantially as speciiied.

3. The combination, with the frame and axle provided with the hangers and stirrup, as described, of the recessed lever G, the rotary cutter with curved blades and spaces between thc ends o1" said blades, the adjustingscrew, and n'lechanism, substantially as described, for operating the rotary cutter, as specified.

4. In a eotton-ehopper, the combination, with the hub having cross-arms and sectional peripheral eutting-knives,of the recessed pivoted lever G, the adjusting-screw, and mech anism, substantially as described, for rotating the rotary cutter, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing` as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES S. LAMAR.

J. MCC/Anim', XV. C. JoNns. 

